Early Childhood Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) 2025
YOUR MISSION BEGINS NOW!
Hello, aspiring early childhood educators! Get ready to blast off into an exhilarating adventure where you’ll uncover the secrets of becoming an early childhood educator. This microsite will be a one-stop place for you to gain access to all information about our early childhood courses and for graduating students to find out more about the upcoming Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE).
With rising demand for preschool services and awareness of the importance of early childhood, the need for quality early childhood educators is surging. Watch Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing interviewing preschoolers to understand the importance of early childhood education!
USEFUL TOOLS FOR PARENTS
Are you ready for the mission that awaits you? Find out what it takes to be a preschool educator below!
- You love to interact with children! Each child is unique, and seeing their growth and progress is what inspires you.
- You wish to make a lifelong impact. The early years are crucial as it is a period that can powerfully shape children’s brain development, creating the foundation for later life.
- You want to grow professionally. There are various opportunities for you to develop through NIEC’s post-diplomas and continuing professional development courses!
Additionally, here’s a checklist of qualities you’ll need:
- Resilience
- In a Team (Collaboration)
- Professionalism
- Passion
- Love for Learning
- Enthusiasm
Curious how our courses can bring you closer to your aspirations?
Explore any of our three courses to learn more and get a glimpse of campus life!
• NIEC (NP) & NIEC (TP) campuses: Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education (N96 & T68)
• NIEC (NP) campus: Diploma in Tamil Studies with Early Education (N95)
• NIEC (ITE) campus: Higher Nitec in Early Childhood Education (V42)
Pro-tip: Deepen your skills with specialisations you can take in your final year! Both NIEC (NP) and NIEC (TP) offer the Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education but you can choose to specialise in different tracks in your 3rd year*.
• NIEC (NP) campus: Early Intervention or Mother Tongue Language Teaching – Chinese or Tamil Track
• NIEC (TP) campus: Visual Arts or Mother Tongue Language Teaching – Chinese Track
*Subject to prevailing terms and conditions.
Did you know? You can get your training fully sponsored and receive a monthly allowance with the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) Training Award! Details here: ECDA Training Award (ITE) and ECDA Training Award (Polytechnic)
Lessons aren’t always in lecture theatres at NIEC. We have special rooms that simulate real-world early childhood learning facilities. You’ll get to engage in microteaching (where you conduct a lesson for your peers acting as preschoolers), and more!
Our alumni have more to share too! Read about our Class of 2024 graduates’ journey and accomplishments at NIEC below.
The hands-on learning approach adopted by my lecturers was the highlight of my experience at NIEC (NP)! They would immerse us in their planned learning experiences, making the modules appealing and engaging. One of my fondest memories was my 6-month internship as I saw the significant impact preschool educators have on laying the foundation for children’s learning. After graduation, I am eager to embark on my journey as a preschool educator. Early childhood is a very rewarding and fulfilling career, especially after witnessing children achieve their milestones!
My love for the Tamil language and motivation to nurture children into leaders who embrace the Tamil culture and values inspired me to join early childhood education. The theoretical knowledge acquired at NIEC (NP) helped me greatly in implementing effective classroom management strategies. During my internship, I’ve used it as a guide to tailor my approach to meet the unique needs of every child. I believe that male preschool educators can make a profound impact on children’s lives too so don’t hesitate if you’re passionate about joining this field.
They are so much more than just your captains; they are also your teammates to an incredible experience!
Who better than to share more about your learning journey than our lecturers?
I teach a drama module that involves various drama strategies they can apply in the classroom. I give my students roleplay scenarios to help them fully immerse themselves in the strategies. For example, I give some students the role of a teacher doing a dramatic reading of a storybook to their children! This helps them better understand the process of each strategy.
Visual arts have always been a vital area for children’s holistic development in critical thinking, openness to new experiences and creativity. These are 21st-century competencies for a new world we face today. As we train students to be early childhood educators, it is important for them to harness the interest in the visual arts, so that they can create an encouraging and creative environment for children and be the nurturing educator alongside children.
Curious about the skills and knowledge you’ll gain by graduation? Find out below!
Let’s also take a trip to where you’ll be working after graduation. Experience the life of an early childhood educator through the eyes of those who are already making a difference in the sector!
Expected Starting Salary
Upon graduation, here’s the starting salary you can expect*:
*Below is an indication of the expected gross monthly salary ranges for preschool educators in Anchor Operator (AOP) centres by 2024.
Job Role
2024 Estimated Gross Monthly Starting Salary Range
Preschool Educators
From $2,900
Infant & Early Years Educators
From $2,600
Further Studies
Of course, your journey doesn’t stop at being an educator. As graduates of our diploma programmes, students will be eligible to apply for full-time degree programmes offered by the Autonomous Universities (AUs) or overseas universities. You may find the full university accreditation list here.
Moreover, we provide a full range of courses for early childhood educators at every stage of their career. Even after graduation when they are working as an educator, they can continue upgrading themselves through our post-diplomas or continuing professional development courses!
ECDA, the agency that oversees the sector, also gives educators plenty of opportunities to develop professionally! Discover more about how ECDA can support your early childhood career below!
TIME TO LAND!
Now that you’re almost at the end of the NIEC JAE mission, let’s take the final step – apply for our courses via JAE!
Mark your calendar! You’ll need to take note of the following dates:
- From September 2024: Learn about the different admission criteria including polytechnics and the ITE.
- 10 January 2025, 2.30pm (Tentative): Release of O-Level results
- 10 January 2025, 4pm to 15 January 2025, 4pm (Tentative): Submit your application through the JAE Internet System (JAE-IS) using your Singpass. Find out how to apply here.
- 4 February 2025, 9am: Release of posting results
- End February 2025: Acceptance of offer
You can apply via the JAE portal from 10 January 2025, 4pm to 15 January 2025, 4pm (Tentative).
Here’s how:
- Ensure that you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course(s) you want.
- Put it as a choice into the JAE-IS.
- You are strongly encouraged to list Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education at both campuses (i.e. course codes N96 and T68 for NIEC’s Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic campuses respectively) in your choices!
For more information about JAE, visit the Ministry of Education (MOE) website.
Have questions?
Email us at contact_niec@niec.edu.sg
All the best!
